Alcohol tax continues to benefit cityAs Russellville’s alcohol sales continue to climb, the city is continuing to reap the benefit of its alcohol tax. According to the city’s Finance Assistant Connie Holstein, the city has collected $57,188 so far this year on its 5 percent alcohol tax. With annual fees of more than $3,000 coming in from private clubs with a liquor license, the city has collected a total of more than $61,000. The city collected more than $66,000 from a 5 percent ...

New Walmart Neighborhood Market open in RussellvilleThe new Walmart Neighborhood Market opened its doors Wednesday morning to shoppers following a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The grand-opening celebration included presentations of $5,000 in grants from Walmart to local community groups. Grant recipients included the Pope County Library, Dwight Elementary School and Crawford Elementary School. In addition to the grants given as part of the grand opening, the new store will further Walmart’s pledge ...

Ross, Hutchinson offer different way to Delta jobs PINE BLUFF (AP) — Gubernatorial candidates Asa Hutchinson and Mike Ross each expressed a desire to improve the quality of the Arkansas workforce Wednesday but differed on how to do it. The pair spoke separately to business, education and political leaders at a Delta Regional Authority conference about efforts to improve the number and quality of jobs available in the impoverished region. "The Delta economy is constantly changing and our workfo...

NRC schedules ANO meetingThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold a public meeting with representatives from Entergy Operations, Inc. on Sept. 3 to discuss the agency’s safety assessment of Arkansas Nuclear One. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Lake Point Conference Center, 61 Lake Point Lane, Russellville. NRC staff will present their assessment of the plant’s performance, talk about agency activities and programs and be available to respond to questi...

AG offers credit card tips for students LITTLE ROCK (AP) — As students prepare to head back to school, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel says young consumers should use caution when considering applying for credit cards. McDaniel also says laws are in place to protect college campuses from predatory credit card solicitations. A 1999 state law restricts the practice of marketing credit cards on college campuses in an effort to combat high-pressure solicitations that target college stu...

Wal-Mart's website to personalize shopping NEW YORK (AP) — Wal-Mart, in its latest bid to compete with nemesis Amazon.com, is rebuilding its website to further personalize the online shopping experience of each customer. Wal-Mart is rolling out a feature that will enable its website to show shoppers more products that they may like, based on previous purchases. It will also customize Wal-Mart's home page for each shopper based on the customer's location, local weather and the customer'...

Russellville City Council OKs convention center contractAfter years in the making, the city has accepted a contract from a Tennessee developer to build a convention center and hotel complex in Russellville. The Russellville City Council called a special meeting Tuesday and voted unanimously to authorize Mayor Bill Eaton and City Clerk Kathy Collins to enter into a master development contract with Hunt Properties, GP, for the construction of The Landing north of Interstate 40. “I feel very humbled t...

Superior Industries to shutter Rogers plant ROGERS (AP) — Superior Industries International Inc. announced Wednesday it would shutter its manufacturing plant in Rogers, eliminating 500 jobs. The California-based company produces aluminum wheels for the auto industry, supplying to companies like Ford, General Motors, Toyota and Nissan. Work done at the Rogers plant will be shifted to other Superior facilities in Fayetteville and in Chihuahua, Mexico, the company said. "This action follow...

Arkansas lands $90M wood pellet manufacturing site MONTICELLO (AP) — A Texas-based company announced Wednesday it is building a $90 million facility in south Arkansas to manufacture wood pellets that can be used as an alternative fuel source. The project is expected to employ 52 people. Houston-based Zilkha Biomass Energy LLC says the facility in Monticello will manufacture its Zilkha Black Pellet, the first commercially available advanced pellet in the biomass industry. The company said in a ...

Tyson to sell Mexico, Brazil poultry operationsSPRINGDALE, Ark. (AP) — Tyson Foods plans to sell its poultry businesses in Mexico and Brazil for $575 million in cash to help pay debt from its recently announced acquisition of Hillshire Brands. The Springdale, Arkansas, meat processor said Monday that it still plans to expand its international operations, especially in Asia, but the businesses it will sell didn't have the scale to gain leading positions in their markets. Tyson made the anno...

Russellville teachers receive 25% off classroom supplies during nationwide event, August 1-3Staples is helping teachers with a Teacher Appreciation Event all weekend long August 1st through August 3rd at store locations nationwide. Most teachers spend more than $400 of their own money each year on supplies and materials for their classrooms. The Staples Teacher Appreciation Event will help teachers get the supplies their classrooms need such as pencils, glue sticks, tissues, art supplies, and more for less. “We know how hard teachers...

July 2014 Russellville business/construction permitsNew business licenses issued by the city of Russellville’s Community Development department for the month of July 2014, indicated by business name, location and type of business: • Rick Medina’s Tried and True Tattoo Co., 919 S. Arkansas, Russellville, tattoo and art gallery. • Just Like Home Senior Care, 3205 West Main Ste. 100, Russellville, daycare setting for adults. • Kelley D. Small dba (doing business as) Red Chair Salon, 815 East Parkw...

Pryor pitches jobs legislation LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor on Friday unveiled proposals to limit tax breaks for companies that move operations overseas and require publicly funded projects to use American-made steel and iron, touting a focus on jobs issues as he faces a tough re-election fight. The two-term lawmaker from Arkansas detailed a package of bills, dubbed the "American-Made Strong" legislation, that he said would boost job creation in Arkans...

Tyson Foods closing 3 plants in Iowa, NY, NM SPRINGDALE (AP) — Tyson Foods Inc. says it's closing three U.S. plants, employing a total 950 workers, which have struggled financially as the company's product needs have changed. Tyson, the biggest U.S. meat processor, announced Friday the planned closures of the plants in Cherokee, Iowa; Buffalo, New York; and Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The company said the action will enable it to move some of the operations and equipment at the plants to o...

Study: Nearly 1 in 3 kids live in poverty LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Nearly three out of 10 kids are living in poverty in Arkansas, but the number of children without health insurance has gone down, according to a national study released Tuesday that shows how children fare in each state. The 25th annual Kids Count report from the Baltimore-based Annie E. Casey Foundation ranked Arkansas 41st in 16 indicators across four areas: economic well-being, education, health and family and community. ...

Womack backs GOP's anti-Internet sales tax stance LITLTE ROCK (AP) — A Republican congressman from Arkansas who has advocated for legislation that would limit tax-free shopping online said Tuesday he agrees with a state GOP stance opposing any sales tax imposed by the federal government, saying he doesn't believe the two positions are in conflict. U.S. Rep. Steve Womack said he agrees the with the state GOP platform opposing any federal tax on Internet sales, approved at the state party's con...

Antique show rolls into southern Arkansas EL DORADO (AP) — An antique dealers group in Arkansas is hoping to make the southern part of the state a top destination for enthusiasts of the vintage goods. The El Dorado News-Times reported the Union County Antique Dealers Association will host a sale that starts Friday and ends Saturday. It will be at the El Dorado Conference Center. The event is part of an initiative to make El Dorado and southern Arkansas the go-to destination for antiqu...

Downtown parking deck neededThe consensus among business owners, Russellville residents and volunteers who want to make the downtown area a better place to shop and work agreed on one thing Wednesday — more parking is definitely needed, and it could be accomplished with a strategic plan that would start with a coordinated parking effort. Now, how much it will cost and how to pay for it become the next phases. The city’s parking committee met for a combined four-plus hour...